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Root-zone CO2 and root-zone temperature effects on photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism of aeroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in the tropics

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Effects of elevated root-zone (RZ) CO2 concentration (RZ [CO2]) and RZ temperature (RZT) on photosynthesis, productivity, nitrate (NO3 −), total reduced nitrogen (TRN), total leaf soluble and Rubisco proteins were studied in aeroponically grown lettuce plants in a tropical greenhouse. Three weeks after transplanting, four different RZ [CO2] concentrations (ambient, 360 ppm, and elevated concentrations of 2,000; 10,000; and 50,000 ppm) were imposed on plants at 20°C-RZT or ambient(A)-RZT (24–38°C). Elevated RZ [CO2] resulted in significantly higher light-saturated net photosynthetic rate, but lower light-saturated stomatal conductance. Higher elevated RZ [CO2] also protected plants from both chronic and dynamic photoinhibition (measured by chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm ratio) and reduced leaf water loss. Under each RZ [CO2], all these variables were significantly higher in 20°C-RZT plants than in A-RZT plants. All plants accumulated more biomass at elevated RZ [CO2] than at ambient RZ [CO2]. Greater increases of biomass in roots than in shoots were manifested by lower shoot/root ratios at elevated RZ [CO2]. Although the total biomass was higher at 20°C-RZT, the increase in biomass under elevated RZ [CO2] was greater at A-RZT. Shoot NO3 − and TRN concentrations, total leaf soluble and Rubisco protein concentrations were higher in all elevated RZ [CO2] plants than in plants under ambient RZ [CO2] at both RZTs. Under each RZ [CO2], total leaf soluble and Rubisco protein concentrations were significantly higher at 20°C-RZT than at A-RZT. Our results demonstrated that increased P Nmax and productivity under elevated [CO2] was partially due to the alleviation of midday water loss, both dynamic and chronic photoinhibition as well as higher turnover of Calvin cycle with higher Rubisco proteins.

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Abbreviations

A-RZT:

ambient root-zone temperature

DM:

dry mass

Fo Fm :

minimum and maximum chlorophyll fluorescence yield

Fv :

variable fluorescence

Fv/Fm :

maximum PSII quantum yield without actinic light

FM:

fresh mass

g smax :

light-saturated stomatal conductance

NO3 − :

nitrate

NR:

nitrate reductase

P Nmax :

light-saturated net photosynthetic rate

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

PSII:

photosystem II

Rubisco:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

RWC:

relative water content

RZ [CO2]:

root-zone CO2 concentration

RZT:

root-zone temperature

TRN:

total reduced nitrogen

TM:

turgid mass

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Sciences and Science Education Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Nanyang, 637 616, Singapore

    J. He, L. Qin & S. K. Lee

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  1. J. He
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  2. L. Qin
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  3. S. K. Lee
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Correspondence to J. He.

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Acknowledgement: This project was supported by the Academic Research Fund (RP12/01 HJ), Ministry of Education, Singapore.

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He, J., Qin, L. & Lee, S.K. Root-zone CO2 and root-zone temperature effects on photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism of aeroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in the tropics. Photosynthetica 51, 330–340 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0030-5

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